Ablation Characteristics Research in Solid Rocket Motor’s Combustion Chamber Produced by 3D Printing

Abstract

A polyamide 12(PA12) reinforced with glass beads (GBs) solid rocket motor (SRM) produced by 3D Printing is proposed in the paper. The ablation research of the combustion chamber is studied by simulating the motor’s operating environment through ablation experiments. The results show that the maximum ablation rate for the motor was 0.22 mm/s, which occurred at the location where the combustion chamber meets the baffle. The closer to the nozzle, the greater its ablation rate. Through the microscopic appearance analysis of the composite material from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface in several directions before and after the ablation experiments, it was found that the GBs with weak or no interfacial adhesion to PA12 may make the mechanical properties of the material degrade. The ablated motor had a large number of holes and some deposits on the inner wall surface. Also by evaluating the surface chemistry of the material, it was found that the composite material underwent thermal decomposition. Moreover, it underwent a complex chemical reaction with the propellant.